JCSE supports Pacific Partnership mission for third consecutive year

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Carlos Vazquez II | Members of the Joint Communications Support Element test a satellite communications dish aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) during Pacific Partnership 2013This year, seven members of the JCSE’s 290th Joint Communications Support Squadron will provide unclassified network access and telephone services to humanitarian aid workers while docked in the Indo-Asia-Pacific host nations during Pacific Partnership 2014.(Photo by U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Carlos M. Vazquez II)  

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

05.19.2014

Story by Whitney Katz 

Joint Enabling Capabilities Command

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. – Seven members from the Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE), a subordinate command of the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command will deploy May 27 to several host nations to participate in Pacific Partnership 2014, the largest annual humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. This marks the third consecutive year JCSE has supported Pacific Partnership with small, mobile packages providing versatile communications capabilities to the various personnel participating in the mission.

Pacific Partnership, led by U.S. Pacific Fleet, initially began as a military-led humanitarian response to one of the world’s most catastrophic natural disasters, the 2004 tsunami that swept though parts of Southeast Asia. The U.S. returned to the region in 2006 for the inaugural Pacific Partnership mission, which has since expanded to include partner nation militaries and non-governmental organizations working to increase the disaster relief capabilities of various Indo-Asia-Pacific countries.

This year’s mission will be unique in that it will be the first time a partner nation, Japan, will provide the primary mission platform. It will also be the first time the mission will feature simultaneous seaborne and airborne phases. Participants in the seaborne phase will provide assistance to Vietnam, Cambodia and the Republic of the Philippines and the airborne phase will assist in the countries of Indonesia and Timor-Leste.

At the invitation of the host nations, Pacific Partnership 2014 will conduct tailored medical, dental, veterinary and engineering civic action programs that strengthen partnerships and ensure the international community is better prepared to deliver foreign humanitarian aid in times of natural disaster or crisis.

While JCSE has supported Pacific Partnership in the past, this is the first time members of the 290th Joint Communications Support Squadron, a Florida Air National Guard unit aligned with JCSE, have participated and they are looking forward to the humanitarian assistance aspect of the deployment.

“Humanitarian missions like this are hands down the most rewarding,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Matthew Giles, a JCSE squadron commander and participant of this mission. “Service members are committed to a life of service and Pacific Partnership provides us an opportunity serve abroad. We are hoping that by being there, we can make a significant difference in the quality of life for someone.”

Specifically, JCSE members will be providing unclassified network access and telephone services via three small, mobile communications equipment sets, known as Initial Entry Packages, which can support up to four users each.

“Our services will primarily be employed once the ship docks and the humanitarian aid workers disembark,” Giles explained. “The majority of our support will be for the medical staff in country; allowing them to send reports, communicate diagnoses and research better ways to treat patients.”

To date, Pacific Partnership missions have provided real-world medical care to approximately 250,000 patients, veterinary services to more than 37,000 animals, accomplished more than 170 engineering projects and enabled critical infrastructure development in 14 countries in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.Building on the lessons of previous mission, Pacific Partnership 2014 will strive to continue improving the relationships between nations and organizations committed to a common goal: the stability and security of the Pacific region.

While JCSE is well-versed in the communications support needed to meet Pacific Partnership’s mission requirements, the team is particularly looking forward to working with other partner nations to ensure full mission success. JCSE’s participation in Pacific Partnership also provides an opportunity for the team to fine tune their communication skill sets and showcase JCSE’s versatile capabilities to a large audience.

“We are hoping to take away a few things from this mission,” said Giles. “We hope that we can test our capabilities in a new environment and that we can gain a better understanding of interoperability with partner nations. But ultimately, we are hoping to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate.”

• Date Taken: 05.19.2014
• Date Posted: 05.19.2014 14:34
• Story ID: 130338
• Location: NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, VA, US